Anti-Corruption Protests Across Russia

On March 26, 2017, thousands of Russians rallied across the country to protest government corruption, in one of the largest opposition demonstrations in years. Demonstrators defied bans by authorities and were arrested by the hundreds. Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Russia’s President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev, called for the protests after posting reports accusing Medvedev of controlling properties far beyond what he could afford on his government salary, including mansions, yachts, and vineyards. Navalny was also arrested, and has now been fined and jailed for 15 days for organizing the rallies. See also “What Russia's Latest Protests Mean for Putin” from the Atlantic’s Julia Ioffe.

Protesters gather at Marsivo Field in St.Petersburg, Russia, on March 26, 2017. Thousands of people crowded in St.Petersburg on Sunday for an unsanctioned protest against the Russian government, the biggest gathering in a wave of nationwide protests that were the most extensive show of defiance in years.#

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is escorted upon his arrival for a hearing after being detained at the protest against corruption and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, at the Tverskoi court in Moscow on March 27, 2017. Navalny was fined and sentenced to 15 days in jail for organizing the rallies.#